Phone makers face higher prices as Qualcomm and MediaTek move to advanced manufacturing processes. This pushes Xiaomi to ramp up its chip development efforts. The Chinese company recently formed a team dedicated to creating its custom silicon, led by former Qualcomm senior director Qin Muyun. He will report directly to CEO Lei Jun, allowing close supervision of progress.
Xiaomi previously completed the design phase for a 3nm processor. Despite rumors of a 2025 release, we haven't seen it materialize as the year's first half nears its end. The company last introduced an in-house chip in 2017 with the Surge S1, which used older 28nm technology. Reports suggest Xiaomi might release a 4nm processor early next year, performing similarly to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
Making custom chips requires a heavy financial investment. Starting with a 4nm design gives the development team valuable experience before tackling more advanced projects. This strategy helps Xiaomi perfect future designs and reduce costs when it eventually mass-produces 3nm chips. The company aims to decrease its reliance on external suppliers as component prices continue rising.
Xiaomi previously completed the design phase for a 3nm processor. Despite rumors of a 2025 release, we haven't seen it materialize as the year's first half nears its end. The company last introduced an in-house chip in 2017 with the Surge S1, which used older 28nm technology. Reports suggest Xiaomi might release a 4nm processor early next year, performing similarly to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
Making custom chips requires a heavy financial investment. Starting with a 4nm design gives the development team valuable experience before tackling more advanced projects. This strategy helps Xiaomi perfect future designs and reduce costs when it eventually mass-produces 3nm chips. The company aims to decrease its reliance on external suppliers as component prices continue rising.
